Metallic framework and floor resulting therefrom

ABSTRACT

The metallic frame-work and floor resulting therefrom is composed of lengthwise extending frame members closed on at least part of their length by an added metallic strip, cross-pieces being secured to lateral sides of said frame members and Z-shaped terminal flanges connected to outer sides thereof.

United States Patent [1 1 Tamboise 1 Sept. 18,1973

[ METALLIC FRAMEWORK AND FLOOR RESULTING THEREFROM {75] Inventor:Maurice Paul Jean Joseph Tamboise,

Crespieres, Yvelines, France [73] Assignee: Entrepose, Paris, France[22] Filed: Aug. 4, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 60,849

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 12, 1969 France 6927771 [52]US. Cl 52/406, 52/618, 52/627, 52/656 [51] Int. Cl E04b 2/20 [58] Fieldof Search 52/404, 406, 488, 52/618, 627, 628, 656, 664, 666, DIG. 4, 582

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,001,733 5/1935 Kellogg52/404 2,039,601 5/1936 London 52/618 2,256,375 9/1941 Bonsall 52/4042,744,589 5/1956 Jenkins et al.. 52/404 3,321,826 5/1967 Lowy 52/618v3,378,974 4/1968 Bush, Jr. 52/D1G. 4

3,513,614 5/1970 Studzinski 52/404 l,7l0,6l0 4/1929 Duke 52/582 XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 259,266 6/ 1964 Australia 52/406 542,95512/1955 Belgium 52/664 1,133,369 3/1957 France... 52/404 1,224,1626/1960 France 52/618 424,620 11/1933 Great Britain.... 52/618 642,5209/1950 Great Britain 52/404 738,287 10/1955 Great Britain.... 52/618860,426 2/1961 Great Britain.... 52/DIG. 4 994,124 6/1965 GreatBritain.... 52/D1G. 4 247,743 10/1963 Australia 52/582 PrimaryExaminer-Henry C. Sutherland Assistant Examiner-Leslie A. BraunA!torney-Browdy and Neimark [57] ABSTRACT The metallic frame-work andfloor resulting therefrom is composed of lengthwise extending framemembers closed on at least part of their length by an added metallicstrip, cross-pieces being secured'to lateral sides of said frame membersand Z-shaped terminal flanges connected to outer sides thereof.

17 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP1 8 I975 SHEET 2 OF 8 PATENTEDSEP] 8 I973 SHEET 3 [IF 8 gala ga J w/ll PATENTED SEPI 8 I973 SHEET 8[IF 8 Pic-31.11.

METALLIC FRAMEWORK AND FLOOR RESULTING THEREFROM The present inventionrelates to a new frame-work for floors made of thin folded iron sheetsand which, in case of need, makes possible the whole prefabrication atplant of a floor which eventually may include the ground coating and theceiling coating and further inserted pipe for circulating fluids.

Besides, due to the particular structure according to the invention, thefloor, although made of metal has high sound proofing properties.

Moreover, the floor is such that it may be mounted only by laying onframing elements of a building, without the necessity of making use ofsecuring means or of a layer of concrete orlike material.

A further advantage of the invention is that the floor may have a verylong span between bearing points and thus makes possible the realizationof very simple carrying structures and which participates to theresistance thereof.

According to the invention, the metallic frame work and floor resultingtherefrom comprise lengthwise extending frame members constituted bysteel sheets folded substantially in the shape of a trapezoid with thelarge base thereof directed downwardly and laterally extended by atleast a wing, said frame members being closed on at least part of theirlength'by an added metallic strip constituting said large base,cross-pieces having in cross-section the shape of a trapezoid ex tendedby a wing protruding from the large base thereof and the ends of whichare diagonally cut-off and secured to the lateral sides of said framemembers and at least Z-shaped terminal flanges connected to outer sidesof said frame members and provided at the top'thereof with a bearingsurface substantially aligned with the top of said floor.

Further characteristics of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed disclosure.

Some typical embodiments of the invention are shown, as not limitedexamples, in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial prospective view illustrating the frame-work of thebox-shaped floor of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial end section of the floor unit.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the frame-work roughly made along lineIII-'III of FIG. 1.

-FIG."4 is a perspective view of the completed floor.

FIG. 5' is a perspective view showing a further application of theinvention. 7

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the structure of the floorframe-work according to a modification.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the floor shown along lineVII-VII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view along line VIII- -VIII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the floor beingcompleted.

FIG. 10 is a schematic partial perspective view illustrating a furtherdevelopment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a detail of FIG. 10.

The floor frame-work is constituted of frame members 1, la, lb made offolded steel sheets, having in cross-section the shape of a trapezoid,the large base of which is extended by side wings 2 clearly shown onFIG. 3. i

The frame members I which have their concavity downwardly directed areclosed on their whole length or on a part thereof by means of ironplates 3, so that it is possible to regulate the moment of inertia ofsaid frame members, of which the resistance to mechanical forces towhich they are submitted may, thus be adjusted to have a very high valuealthough the sheets used for the manufacturing of the frame members arevery thin (for example about 1.5 mm).

The frame members are connected together from place to place by means ofcross-pieces 4, made exactly like the frame members by folded trapezoidshaped iron sheets. The ends of said cross-pieces are obliquely cut inorder to bear on the sloped sides of the frame members 1, while wings 4athereof bear on the wings 2 of two consecutive frame members as clearlyshown on FIG. 3.

Connection between the cross-pieces 4 and the frame members ispreferably made either by means of welding scams or, eventually, byelectric welding between wings 2 and 4a.

At their ends, the frame members and eventually the iron sheets 3secured to said frame members engage the base plate 5 of terminalflanges 6, having towards the outside of the floor a protruding edge 7extended by a raising edge 8 (FIG. 2) whereby the terminal flange 6 hassubstantially a Z-shape extended by the raising edge 8.

An angle iron 9 is connected to the flanges 6 in order to coverthe topof the frame members which are thus boxed-up in the terminal flanges 6to which they are secured by any suitable means.

by the reference number 10 and are making up the side flanges of thefloor. The height of these side flanges is equal to the height of theframe-members.

From the above description, it will be seen that when the frame-work ofthe floor is assembled, said framework have the shape of a framedelimited by the side flanges l0 and the terminal flanges 6, and thatcells are delimited in the thickness of the frame, by frame members land cross-pieces 4.

In order to provide a completed floor suitable to be prefabricated theabove described frame-work is provided on its top with a wide-wavedribbed sheet 11 (FIGS. 2 and 4). Lathes 13 made preferably of wood aredisposed in the hollow ribs 12 of said ribbed sheet, these lathesextending across the direction of the frame members. In that manner,said ribbed sheet 11 shows a flat top surface since the lathes 13 arecompletely filling up the hollow ribs 12.

The ends of said ribbed sheets are fixed to the terminal flanges 6 andthe sides thereof to the flanges 10. Moreover, the sheet may beconnected by means of screws both to the members I and to thecross-pieces 4. The lathes 13 are consequently used as filling materialfor the screwing of bolts, screws and the like.

It will be seen that, by such means, the covering sheet 11 is evenlydistributing the loads on the whole area of the floor-frame,particularly since the ribs thereof extend transversally to thedirection of said frame members.

The protruding edge 7 of the terminal flanges 6 is used as a bearingsurface for making the whole of the floor to bear upon the top ofsupporting girders, such as girders 14 shown on FIG. 2. The width of theprotruding edge is provided, for instance, to overlay only one half ofthe girder 14, so that two floors may be endto-end joined.

The above described floor, when provided to be prefabricated in factory,includes advantageously the constitutive elements of a ceiling, saidceiling being made of slabs or wall-tiles 15, of square or rectangularshape, which are fixed under the frame members and under thecross-pieces, for example, by means of self tapering screws 16.

By properly choosing the nature of the material of the slabs, anadditional fire-guard screw may be obtained.

In order to avoid the ceiling, of which sizes may be important, forexample ranging about 6 meters in length per 1.80 meter in width, to bedamaged during handlings, said ceiling is advantageously provided -witha removable cover 17 made of steel sheet or synthetic resin sheet saidcover fitting on the floor flanges and thus covering entirely theceiling.

Likely it is possible to provide the floor during manufacturing withceiling elements; said floor may also receive the ground coating and, inthis case, as shown by FIGS. 2 and 4, it is provided to fix previouslyon the upper surface of the sheet 11, a sheet or plate 18 made ofrelatively flexible material such as a felt or a rubbery product or thesame on which is laid the final ground coating, referred 19. I

It is advantageous to provide respectively the side edges of the groundcoating with groove and tongue joints, this making possible theinterlocking at the time of laying two contiguous floors.

From the above description, it will be seen that the covering sheet 11delimits with the floor frame-work channels and recesses 20 either forthe passage of pipes, or used directly for the circulation of a gaseousfluid such as ventilating air.

The frame-floor such as above described may particularly be easilyadapted to a building with a very deep sound proofing, and this in spiteof its all metallic structure. Actually, the cells delimited between theframe members and the cross-pieces as well as the hollow bodiesdelimited by said frame members and crosspieces are, preferably,tilled-up with sound deadening material which is thus divided, thisdivision improving the sound proofing qualities of the used materials.

The cells and hollow bodies are, preferably, filled-up with glass-woolcompressed on a support, made for instance of bituminous kraft paper,thus making-up sound insulating panels which are stacked into said cellsin such a manner that the supports are arranged in opposition withrespect to the floor median plate 21 (FIG. 3). In this way, a reflectiveeffect of the sound waves will be obtained simultaneously with a dampingof said waves.

Outside faces of lateral flanges will advantageously be coated withsynthetic resin or with a glue and, if necessary, fitted with a plasticjoint in order that two adjacent floor elements be jointly assembled,this avoiding any alternated bending effect, whereas said resin or jointis making up an expandion element. f FIG. 5 illustrates a furtherdevelopment of the inve htion according to which the frame-workcomprises at the ends thereof cross-pieces 4, one of these having wing4a, flushing with the ends of the frame members.

It is moreover provided intermediate wedges 2 2, similar to cross-pieces4, but these wedges comprise on their top surface a plate 23 in order tomake possible their fixing, for instance by screwing together on thewings and on the top of lateral frame members of two adjacent frame-workelements, as for example elements A and C on FIG. 5.

By this means, a continuous girder is obtained at the ends of thesuccessive frame-works of the floor and it is thus possible to join twosuccessive uprights 24 and 25 only by means ofa folded sheet 26 of whichthe wing 26a closes the girder formed by the floor-frame. Said wingwhich may bereinforced as shown at 27 fairly increases the bendingmoment of said girder.

By providing some of the wedges 22 with an upright as shown by referencenumeral 28 for the wedge 22a, it is possible to combine the mounting ofthe frame-work with the mounting of the floors and thus obtaining anhomogeneous unit.

On FIGS. 6 11, the frame-work includes three frame members 1,, la, andlb, made of folded iron sheet. The median frame member 1a, is similar tothose described above and has in cross-section the shape of a trapezoidof which the large base is extended by lateral wings 2. 1

Lateral frame members 1, and lb, (FIG. 7) have the shape of a rightangled trapezoid and are provided with only one lateral wing 2,. Framemembers 1 have their base closed on the whole or on part of the lengththereof by means of iron sheets 3 for the median member la, and by meansof iron sheets 3, and 3, for the lateral right angled trapezoid shapedmembers. Iron sheets 3, and 3 are folded at right angle in order to forma rising edge soldered within the volume delimited by said frame members1, and 1b,.

Frame members are connected from place-to-place by cross-pieces but, asshown on FIGS. 6 8, the crossmembers are made of iron sheets 30, cutinthe shape of an isocelestrapezoid and folded in an obtuse angle, inorder to be applied on the sloped sides of the frame members while, bymeans of their wings 31, they bear on the top of said frame members, andby means of their wings 31a they bear on the frame member wings.

Successive cross-pieces are arranged at intervals as well shown on FIG.6 and on FIG. 8 and it is the reason why the cross-pieces, which areused as cross-braces between the frame members, extend respectively atnearly regular intervals without any narrow passage be found as it wasthe case in the above-described exampics, in which cross-members weremanufactured with two sheets 30 bound together. The connection betweenthe frame members and the cross-pieces is made by welding, prefrably byelectric welding or autogenous weld fillets.

From the above description, it is obvious that the main difference ofthe frame-work which has just been described with respect to theframe-work illustrated in the preceding figures is to manufacture theend frame members in the shape of a right angled trapezoid andthecrosspieces portion by only folded iron sheets.

Frame members are, at their ends, placed on the base plate 5 (FIG. 6) ofthe Zrshaped terminal flanges 6 having, towards the outside of the floora protruding edge 7 extended by a raising edge 8.

A wedge of absorbing or damping material as for example the materialknown under the same of neoprene is fixed under the edge 7, as'shown in7a, in order that said wedge insulates the floor from the metallic orconcrete supports 47 (FIG. 8) on which said floor bears by means of saidedge 7.

FIG. 8 shows that supports 47 provide a clearing with the flanges 6,this avoiding sound transmissions and making possible the compensationof building tolerances frequently important in the buildingmanufacturing. An angle iron 9 is fixed upon each flange 6 in thepurpose of covering the frame members top surface, so that said framemembers are wholly surrounded by the terminal flange 6 to which they areconnected by any suitable means.

Owing to the right angled trapezoidal shape of lateral frame members 1and 1b,, then said frame members are forming the lateral sides of thefloor without the necessity of mounting of connecting any other part.

In order to establish a complete floor structure, able of being whollyprefabricated and having a high grade of sound proofing and heatinsulation, the top surface of the above described frame-work is coveredby plates 32, preferably made of compressed rock-wool, said plates beingbesides themselves covered with a panel 33 made of agglomerated materialmaking possible the further fixing of any kind of desired groundcoating.

As shown on FIG. 9, the volume extending from the bottom of the plate(or plates) 32 up to the iron sheets 3, 3, and 3 closing the framemembers is entirely filled with panels 34, 34a 34n arranged both betweenand inside the frame members, said panels being, for example made ofrock-wool coated in a casing forming a spacer diaphragm between thevarious panels.

According to the invention, it has been found that the whole of saiddiaphragms extend respectively at the same level within the thickness ofthe floor, while successive panels such as 34 and 34a may have the samethickness or a different thickness.

By this means, reflective screens are constituted spacing the absorbingcoating forming the panel of rock-wool or similar material therebypreventing propagation of sounds in a very unexpected manner, owing tothe slight mass of the floor with respect to a conventional floorcomposed of heavy elements, for instance made of concrete, and spaced bylight elements made of felt or synthetic resin.

Sheets 3, 3,, 3, are used for fixing, under their bottom surface, strips35 also preferably made of agglomerated rock-wool, said strips being,for example fixed by gluing by means of a glue made of synthetic resin.Strips 35 are provided within their thickness, are particularly shown onFIG. 7, with magnetic parts 36 made for example of soft iron which areembedded within the thickness of the material of which said strips aremade. By this means, it is possible, when the floor is mounted to easilysecure on its bottom surface one ornamental ceiling made of panels 37,having a square or rectangular shape, said panels being fitted withsmall magnets 38 arranged at some places in correspondence with the softiron parts 36 of the strips 35.

The strips 35 make that, between the ceiling and the insulating panels34 34n, free spaces 39 are delimited FIG. 7) in which it is possible tolay out various pipes and eventually to set some fluids circulation.

rectangular floor panels with a thickness of 12 to 20 cm and having alength possibly reaching about 6 meters and a width 2.5 meters whileusing for the manufacture of such frame-works thin iron sheets of about1.5 mm in thickness.

A further object of the invention is to make possible theautomaticassembling of two adjacent floor-panels and, for this purpose, as shownon FIGS. 10 and 1 l, the frame members lateral edges 3 are fitted withstrap shaped gussets 40, each of said gussets having a small bar 41(FIG. 11) fixed thereinto. As a complement, frame members 3 are providedwith lugs 42 forming a tongue 43 bounded by a folded edge 44.

In this manner, and taking into consideration FIG, 10, when the floor Ais laid on suitable bearing blocks, it is enough to let down the floorB, so that the tongues 43 get into the gussets 40, the folded edge 44being springly stressed as it passes along the bar 41 and thenrecovering its original position, whereby forming with said bar 41 alock preventing any displacement of one of the floors one with respectto the other.

In order to avoid any possibilityof vibrations transmission from onefloor to the other, gussets 40 and 42 are at least for a part sunk intoplates made of absorbing material made of agglomerated rock-wool; saidplates being arranged on the lateral sides of frame members 3 and 3 asshown under reference number 45 on FIG. 2.

It is important to notice that the vertical stresses applied to thefloor incline to apply thereto a bending stress; but, owing to theposition of the edges 7 of flanges 6, said edges constituting the floorbearing points, this position is situated in the close vicinity of thefloor top surface and thus the bending stresses caused said surfaceworking like the surface of a girder center fiber and then, saidstresses are, chiefly absorbed by the plates 3, 3,, 3,, supporting atensile stress, this constituting the best working conditions for metal.

I claim:

1. A' frame-work having an upwardly directed load bearing surface and adownwardly directed surface comprising: a plurality of individuallengthwise extending frame members constituted by steel sheets foldedsubstantially in the shape of a trapezoid having an open large basedirected downwardly and provided with at least one laterally extendingwing, said frame members each being closed'along at least part of itslength by an added metallic strip at said large base;

a plurality of cross-pieces secured in spaced relationship betweenlateral sides of said frame members and separating said frame membersthus delimiting a hollow rigid cellular structure; and

a Z-shaped terminal flange connected to each end of said frame members,the top thereof being a bearing portion substantially aligned with thetop of said frame members for supporting a floor.

2. Frame-work as set forth in claim 1, wherein crosspieces are furtherprovided at the end of said frame members as well as wedges shaped likesaid crosspieces and having small securing plates for connection withsaid frame members-whereby a continuous hollow girder is formed by saidcross-pieces and wedges at the ends of several adjacent floorframe-works lying on a folded iron sheet having a wing closing thebottom of said girder.

3. Frame-work as set forth in claim 2, wherein some of said wedgesconstitute bearings for uprights connecting two successive frame-worklevels.

4. Frame work as set forth in claim 2, comprising further connectingmeans for lateral flanges of two adjacent frame-works.

5. Framework as set forth in claim 1, further including a ribbed ironsheet supported on the upper surface of said frame members, said ironsheet having ribs which extend transversely with respect to said framemembers and said sheet being provided in those parts directing theirconcavity upwards with packing means for connection of a floor coating,and wherein the framework further includes ceiling panels mounted on thebottom surface of said frame members and crosspieces whereby the wholeof the framework with ceiling panels and floor coating may be completelyprefabricated.

6. Framework as set forth in claim further including a removableprotecting member means for surrounding at least said terminal flangeand for covering the whole of the ceiling panels before mounting of saidfloor.

7. Framework as set forth in claim 1 further including a plate made ofagglomerated sound absorbing material covering the top of said framemembers, and a panel for carrying a ground coating supported on saidplate.

.8. Frame-work as set forth in claim 1, including further plates fixedunder said frame-members, said plates being provided with fixing meansfor fixing prefabric'ated plates constituting a ceiling.

9. Frame-work as set forth in claim 8, wherein said plates fixed underthe frame-members are made of agglomerated sound absorbing material andcontain pieces made of magnetic material, cooperating with parts alsomade of magnetic material, at least one of said parts being a permanentmagnet, and being fixed to said panels constituting the ceiling.

10. Frame-work as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of the lateralframe-members is providedwith gussets and the other with lugs engaged ingussets of an adjacent frame-member.

11. Framework as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a small barenclosed by said gussets, and wherein-lugs delimit a resilient foldededge engaging said small bar for interlocking adjacent frame-works.

12. Framework as set forth in claim 1, comprising two lateral framemembers having in cross-section the shape of a right angled trapezoidhaving a large base directed downwardly.

l3. Framework as set forth in claim 1, wherein space between the upperplane and the lower plane deferred by the top and bottom of the framemembers and associated cross-pieces is at least partly filled withpanels of absorbing material respectively arranged in parallelrelationship in successive layers, said panels of absorbing materialbeing spaced apart by spacer diaphragms, whereby a reflective effect ofthe sound waves is obtained together with a damping thereof.

14. Frame-work as set forth in claim 13, wherein each of the layers ofthe absorbing material arranged in the thickness of the frame is ofequal thickness on the whole surface of the said framework, whilesuccessive layers are indifferently of same or different thickness.

15. Framework as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spaces definedbetween said frame members and crosspieces are filled with an insulatingmaterial.

16. Frame-work as set forth in claim 15, wherein the insulating materialis made of a mineral wool compressed on a support acting as a diaphragmand in that panels made of insulating material are stacked upon oneanother with said diaphragms respectively in opposed relationship fromthe median symmetrical plane of said floor frame-work.

l7. Framework as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bearing surface ofthe terminal flange is underly provided with an absorbing insulatingwedge thus preventing transmission of sounds from the floor supported onsaid framework to a structure'supporting said framework.

* i II UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N3.759Loo6 Dated September 18', 1273 Inventor) Maurice Paul Jean JosephTAMBOISE It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Page l Item [30] the Foreign Application Priority Data should becorrected to read as follows:

1.2, Franceoooooo ooo00000000692777]. (1st Addi.)January 30, 1970France. .7003367 Signed sealed this 29th day of January 197M..-

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F-LETCHER, JR. Attesting Officer RENE D. TEGTMEYER I ActingCommissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) '1 cs.COVFRNHENT PRINTING OFFICE nu o-aas-sal

1. A frame-work having an upwardly directed load bearing surface and adownwardly directed surface comprising: a plurality of individuallengthwise extending frame members constituted by steel sheets foldedsubstantially in the shape of a trapezoid having an open large basedirected downwardly and provided with at least one laterally extendingwing, said frame members each being closed along at least part of itslength by an added metallic strip at said large base; a plurality ofcross-pieces secured in spaced relationship between lateral sides ofsaid frame members and separating said frame members thus delimiting ahollow rigid cellular structure; and a Z-shaped terminal flangeconnected to each end of said frame members, the top thereof being abearing portion substantially aligned with the top of said frame membersfor supporting a floor.
 2. Frame-work as set forth in claim 1, whereincross-pieces are further provided at the end of said frame members aswell as wedges shaped like said cross-pieces and having small securingplates for connection with said frame members whereby a continuoushollow girder is formed by said cross-pieces and wedges at the ends ofseveral adjacent floor frame-works lying on a folded iron sheet having awing closing the bottom of said girder.
 3. Frame-work as set forth inclaim 2, wherein some of said wedges constitute bearings for uprightsconnecting two successive frame-work levels.
 4. Frame work as set forthin claim 2, comprising further connecting means for lateral flanges oftwo adjacent frame-works.
 5. Framework as set forth in claim 1, furtherincluding a ribbed iron sheet supported on the upper surface of saidframe members, said iron sheet having ribs which extend transverselywith respect to said frame members and said sheet being provided inthose parts directing their concavity upwards with packing means forconnection of a floor coating, and wherein the framework furtherincludes ceiling panels mounted on the bottom surface of said framemembers and cross-pieces whereby the whole of the framework with ceilingpanels and floor coating may be completely prefabricated.
 6. Frameworkas set forth in claim 5 further including a removable protecting membermeans for surrounding at least said terminal flange and for covering thewhole of the ceiling panels before mounting of said floor.
 7. Frameworkas set forth in claim 1 further including a plate made of agglomeratedsound absorbing material covering the top of said frame members, and apanel for carrying a ground coating supported on said plate. 8.Frame-work as set forth in claim 1, including further plates fixed undersaid frame-members, said plates being provided with fixing means forfixing prefabricated plates constituting a ceiling.
 9. Frame-work as setforth in claim 8, wherein said plates fixed under the frame-members aremade of agglomerated sound absorbing material and contain pieces made ofmagnetic material, cooperating with parts also made of magneticmaterial, at least one of said parts being a permanent magnet, and beingfixed to said panels constituting the ceiling.
 10. Frame-work as setforth in claim 1, wherein one of the lateral frame-members is providedwith gussets and the other with lugs engaged in gussets of an adjacentframe-member.
 11. Framework as set forth in claim 10, further comprisinga small bar enclosed by said gussets, and wherein lugs delimit aresilient folded edge engaging said small bar for interlocking adjacentframe-works.
 12. Framework as set forth in claim 1, comprising twolateral frame members having in cross-section the shape of a rightangled trapezoid having a large base directed downwardly.
 13. Frameworkas set foRth in claim 1, wherein space between the upper plane and thelower plane deferred by the top and bottom of the frame members andassociated cross-pieces is at least partly filled with panels ofabsorbing material respectively arranged in parallel relationship insuccessive layers, said panels of absorbing material being spaced apartby spacer diaphragms, whereby a reflective effect of the sound waves isobtained together with a damping thereof.
 14. Frame-work as set forth inclaim 13, wherein each of the layers of the absorbing material arrangedin the thickness of the frame is of equal thickness on the whole surfaceof the said framework, while successive layers are indifferently of sameor different thickness.
 15. Framework as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe spaces defined between said frame members and cross-pieces arefilled with an insulating material.
 16. Frame-work as set forth in claim15, wherein the insulating material is made of a mineral wool compressedon a support acting as a diaphragm and in that panels made of insulatingmaterial are stacked upon one another with said diaphragms respectivelyin opposed relationship from the median symmetrical plane of said floorframe-work.
 17. Framework as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bearingsurface of the terminal flange is underly provided with an absorbinginsulating wedge thus preventing transmission of sounds from the floorsupported on said framework to a structure supporting said framework.